Delhi is literally gasping for air this morning, Monday, January 19, 2026. If you looked out your window at 7:00 AM, you probably saw… nothing. Or nothing. Let’s be real, the visibility was so bad it felt like the city was wrapped in a wet, gray wool blanket. Those too.
The overall AQI hit 418—solidly in the ‘Severe’ zone. The thing is, in hotspots like Anand Vihar (462) and Ashok Vihar (473), it’s not even “air” anymore; it’s soup. And here’s the kicker—authorities just hit the panic button, reinvoking GRAP Stage-IV (Severe+) restrictions across the entire NCR.
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The “Delhi Gas Chamber” Log: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the air is actively trying to kill the vibe.
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The School Switch: The thing is, most schools were supposed to reopen today after the winter break. Instead, the government has ordered a shift to hybrid learning. Classes up to 9 and Class 11 are back on Zoom. Classes 10 and 12? You’re still expected to show up physically. Let’s be real—that’s a tough commute in 450+ AQI.
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The Airport Mess: IGI Airport is a parking lot. Dense fog dropped visibility to near-zero at Safdarjung and Palam. The thing is, hundreds of flights are delayed. And if you’re planning to fly later this week, Republic Day airspace closures start on January 21. It’s a mess. Those too.
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The “Ban” List: Under Stage-IV, BS-IV diesel trucks are banned from entering Delhi (unless they’re carrying milk or meds). All construction—even public projects like flyovers—has been halted. The thing is, private offices are also being “urged” to let 50% of staff work from home.
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Mumbai Fog? Oddly enough, even Mumbai woke up to dense fog this morning. The thing is, their AQI is better, but the visibility hit caught everyone off guard.
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AQI Leaderboard: The Most Toxic Zones (Jan 19, 2026)
| Location | AQI Reading | Category | The “Vibe” |
| Ashok Vihar | 473 | Severe | Basically unbreathable. |
| Anand Vihar | 462 | Severe | The usual suspect, but worse. |
| Wazirpur | 472 | Severe | Industrial smog mix. |
| Akshardham | 455 | Severe | Visibility under 50 meters. |
| RK Puram | 439 | Severe | Stinging eyes and dry coughs. |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The IMD is saying this isn’t clearing up soon. The thing is, the “ventilation index” is sitting at 1,000 $m^2/s$. For context, you need at least 6,000 $m^2/s$ for the pollutants to actually blow away. Or nothing. Those too. We’re basically stuck in a bowl of trapped exhaust and dust until at least Wednesday.
It’s an ongoing situation where the Odd-Even vehicle scheme is reportedly on the table for discussion tomorrow. The thing is, if the numbers don’t drop by tonight, expect your car to be “illegal” on Tuesday.
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End….
